Shock-absorber.



.l c. H. WESTEN.

SHOCK ABSORBER. APPLICATION FILED APR.1'0, 1909- INVENTUR 64 M Patented Dec. 5, 1916. 2 SHEETS-SHEET I Q Lia-MN C. H. WESTEN. I SHOCK ABSORBER. APPLICATION FILED APR. 10. I909.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

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Patented Dec. 5, i916;

ennrsrran H. wasrnanor wnsr noiaoimiv, nnwaniasna, Assreno a, BY MESNE nssxennranrs, ro nanrronn SUSPENSION, CQMIANY, or JEBSEY'CITY, new

. JERSEY, A CQHPQRATION 015,. NEW YORK.

snecK-answ I? ma Spccificationo reassures. pgwm s D@@,5, 19%;,

Application filed April 10, wee; asses-e m.

State of lflew Jersey, have invented certain essentially on the line Eel- 310f Fig 1, the

new andl useful Improvements in'Shock .Absorbers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My'invention relates to improvements in means formodifying or retarding the action of vehicle springs, and the same has for its object to provide a simple, eflicient and re liable apparatus which may be readily atta'ched to'vehicles and adjusted to suit the different conditions .under which: the yeh'icle is used.

j Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus which, when once properly adjusted .Will readily accommodate itself to the varyingconditions or load imposed uponthe vehicle.

Further, (said invention has for its object to providean "apparatus which will'tiutoma-tica-lly ,adjust'itself to its neutral position -'regardless of the loadcarried'by the .vehicle.

arm,members being shown fully extended; Figw lis a detail side view partly broken tar 'ng means provided upon the head of the intermediate arm or member, and Fig. 5 is a side view partly broken away and in section showing the apparatus in neutral position, and diagrammatically the extent of its movements above and below thejxneutral position.

In said drawings 10 designates the-ap-. paratus as a whole, comprising a pairof pivoted arms 11 12 corresponding in outline and provided with enlarged portions or heads 11 12. 'The arm 11 is formed of a single piece of sheet steel and provided upon the opposite surfaces of its free end with reinforcing plates 14 .14, and at its pivoted or enlarged end 11 with a centrally located circular recess 15 having three inwardly extending projections or lugs 16 ,16 16 arranged equally separated from' each other, and 17 de'notes'a plate located within the recess 15 and provided with three p'roj.ec-'

different degrees of resistance to the action ofthe vehicle springs in order to suit the "of its movement whereby to controltheaction of the springs when the vehicle is ti'av uneven roads.

cling over comparatively smooth roads, andthen will oiter agreater degree of resistance to the action of said springs When the yeh1- cle is traveling over comparatively rough or To the-attainment of the aforesaid objects I and ends my invention consists in the novel details ofconstruction, and in the combination, connection and arrangementof parts, hereinafter more fully described and then" pointed out in the claims. I j

In the accompanying drawings 'fpr-ming part of this specification wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts Figure l is a side view showing one form of shock absorber constructed according toland embodying my said invention Fig. 2 is an end viewthereofg Fig. 3 is, a sectiontalcen intermediate the on the head 11*. v

"til 19 denotecircular disks of fiber or other suitable bearing material which are projections or lugs 16 16 16 disposed upon the opposite. sides of-itheenlarged portion or head '11 and secured in operative position thereon, by pins 2Q .20 20 'aweg, showing the construction of the reextending through said packing disks 1 9719,

and the plate 17 disposed intermediatesaid 'disks and within the recess 150i the arm shall rotate jointly.

forcing plate 21 arranged intermediate said The arm 12 is composedtofitwo similarly ends, a ndtheenla'rged portions. or heads l2 l2 arelprovided with rims 12 12 which are adapted to fit upon and partly inclose the edges of the packing disks 19 19 secured. upon the enlargedportion or head l1 on the arm 11.

. 22 denotesflanannular plate providedwith an opening to-,;recei ve the arm 11, which plate is adapted to'be fitted over the opposing-edges of the rims12 12 on the. heads 12'. 12 and besecifired' to the e dgeof the head lli bya screw 23.-'

24- denotes a bolt extending through the heads 12 12 of the arm 12 and through the packing disks 19 19 and plate 17 and 25 dehote dished spring plates disposed upon the opposite sides of the heads 12 12 and held under tension against the outer surfaces of said heads 12 12 by means of a nut- 26 having a' pointer 26 secured thereon for indicating upon said spring plate the degree of the tension with which the same bear upon the heads 12% 12 27 27 denote studs provided with collars 28 28. One of said studs is, adapted to be secured at its inner end to the vehicleframe and the other to a suitable clip provided upon the axle of the running gear, and the outer ends of said studs are screw threaded and extend through the outer ends of the arms 1112 and the reinforcing plates 14 21 therein.

29 29 denote cupped washers disposed upon the studs or bolts 27 27 at the opposite sides of the outer ends of the arms 11 12.

j and 80 3O denote packings disposed insaid cupped washers 29 29 which bear against the outer surfaces of the arm members 12 12 of the arm 12 and the opposite surfaces of the reinforcing plates 14 14- of the arm 11. 81 31 denote nuts secured upon the threaded ends of said bolts whereby to hold the ends of said arms secured in position upon said studs and to the several parts of the vehicle.

32 32 denote keys which extend through the cupped washers 29 29, and the packings 3O therein, and the outer ends of the arms whereby to hold the ends of said arms 11 1.2 in operative position upon said studs 27 27, one to the frame of the vehicle and the other to a suitable clip or fastening device provided upon theaxle of the running gear at a point directly below the point where the upper stud 27 is secured to the frame. Hereupon the outer ends of the arms 1.1 12 are secured in position upon said bolts by means of the nuts 31.31.

As the vehicle travels over the ground and the body moves relatively to the running gear owing to the inequalities or unevenness of the road traversed the intermediate arm 11 which has its head disposed intermediate the packings 19 19 willbe caused to rotate upon the periphery of the plate 17 until the projections 16 16 thereof engage the projections 18 18 of said plate 17 and thereupon cause the disks 19 19 to be rotated with said'arms 11 11. As the disks 19 19 are rotated the outer surfaces thereof will be frictionally retarded by their engagement with the inner surfaces of the heads 12" 12 of the arm 12, under tension of the springs 25 25 bearing upon the outer surfa'ize of the said plates 12 12. The tension of said spring may be regulated by the bolt 24 and nut 26 thereon.

- resistance to the It will be noted that initially the head 11 is free to move intermediate the disks 19 19 except as retarded thereby which retarding action only occurs between the portion of said heads 11 which contact with the inner opposing surfaces of the disks 19 19, and that thereupon as the projections 16 16 of said head 11 engage the projections 18 18 of the plate 17, the head 11 together with the disks 19 19, and plate 17 will be caused to rotate upon the bolt 24, and a greater degree of friction encountered owing to the fact that the entire outer surfaces of the disks 19 19 are now engaged by the inner surfaces of the heads 12 12 and the rotation thereof retarded.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: As the vehicle travels over the road the body portion thereof will rise and fall as it passes over inequalities of the road owing to its being springesupported upon the running gear. As slight inequalities of the road are encountered a relatively small movement of the body will occur, and therefore only a small degree of resistance will he required to prevent the undue movement of the springs. This resistance will be provided initially by the movement of the arms 11 12 which movement is retarded by the action of the inner surfaces of the disks 19 19, adjacent to their outer edges, bearing upon the opposite sides of the head 11 intermcdiate the edges of the recess 15, and the periphery of said head 11*. During this partial initial movement the projections 16 16 1 16 of the head 11 are free to move around the plate 17, but as soon as a greater obstruction or irregularity is encountered, the projections 16 16 16 of the headll will contact with the edges of the projections 18 1.8 10F 18 of the plate 17, and. cause the same to rotate therewith. As soon ,as this occurs the frictional retarding action is transferred from the inner surface of the disks 19 19, (which are only in engagement with the 1 portion of the head 11 surrounding the recess 15 thereof,) to the outer surfaces of said disks 19 19 which outer surfaces are wholly in engagement with the inner surfaces or the heads 12 12 of the arm 12, and held under tension against the. same by the action of the spring plates 25 25, bolt 24 and nut 26, and thus offer a greater degree of action of the vehicle springs. As the vehicle body again dc- 129 scends the outer ends of the arms 11 12 are again brought together. However, as the body descends below its normal level owing to the inertia. of the body, the arms 11 12 will be forced together beyond their normal position, and with the reaction of the vehicle springs, and the consequent slightrise of the vehicle body upon the running gear,

the pivoted parts of the apparatus arranged upon and surrounding the bolt 21 will be restored to the neutral position illustrated in full lines at Fig. 5.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim and desire to secure 'by'Lctters Patent, is:-

1. A shock absorber comprising a plurality of pivotally connected members, friction means for retarding the movement/of said members; one of said members consisting of a plurality of parts, of-Which one part severally by its engagement-With a portion of saidhfriction means is adapted to retard the mcivement of said members for a part of" their movement, and several of said parts jointly in combination 'With said friction means serving to render the whole-of another part of said friction means operative to retard the movement of said members for the remainder of their movement, substantially as specified.

2, A shock absorber comprising a plurality of pivotally coni'iected members, and,

friction means for retarding'the movement of said members fora part of thelr movement by the engagement of a certain'part thereof with a portion of one side of said friction means, and for retarding the movement of said members for the remainder of their movement by the engagement thereof with the entire surface of another side of said friction means, substantially as specified.

3. A shock absorber comprising a plurality of pivotally connected members, and

friction means for retarding the movement of sald membersfor a part of their movevment by the engagement of a certain part thereof With a portion of one side of said friction means to produ ce one degree of frictional resistance, andfor retarding the movement of said members for the remainder of their movement by the engagement thereof with the entire surface of another side of said friction means to produce a different degree of frictional resistance, substantially as specified. I

4. A shock absorber comprising a plurality of pivotally connected members, andfriction means for retarding the movement a of said members for a part of their movewith the entire surface of another side of. v

'; movement of said 'arm,-'substantially asfriction means for retarding the movement of said members for a part of their move ment by the engagement ofa part thereof with. one side of said friction means, and for retarding the movement thereof for the remainder-of their movement by the engage; ment thereof with another side of saidfriction means, substantially as specified. we

6. A shock absorber comprising a plurality of pivotally connected members,.and friction means interposed between'the connected ends of said members for retarding the movement of said members for a part of their movement by the'engagement of a part thereof Withfa portion of one side of said friction means, and for retarding the movement thereof forv the remainder oftheir movement by the engagement thereof with so another side of said frictionmeans, substantially as specified. i v 7 A shock absorber comprising a pair of pivotally connected members, and a friction disk interposed between the connected ends .35 of said members for retarding the movement of said members for a part .of their movement by the engagement of alimited portion thereof with one side of said fric tion disk, and for retarding the movement en thereof-fo'r the remainder of their movement by theengagement thereof with :a greater portionhof "the other side of said friction disk,-substantially asspecified} 8. A-shock absorber'comprisingaipair of pivotally connected members, a friction disk interposed between the connected ends of said members for retarding thefmovemeii of said members for a part of their move, ment by the engagement of a part thereof with one side of said friction disk, and for retarding the movement thereof for the remainder of their movement by the engage ment thereof with the other side of said friction disk, and means for transferring '10s the retarding action from one side -of said friction disk to the other side thereof, substantially as specified. I

9. A shocknbsorber comprising a pair of, arms, one of said arms having a bifurcated ,110 end, and the other of said arms consisting of a plurality of parts, a pair of friction disks'having a portion oftheir inner faces in frictional engagemdnt with one of the parts of said second-named arm for pro- 11-5 ducing 'oneldegree of frictional resistance during a part'of the movement of said arms and the entire outer faces of said friction disks in; engagement with 'theibifurcated ends of the'other of said arms for produc- 7 ing a differentdegree ojf'uniform frictional" reslsta gce din-mg the remainder. of said inner surface in engagement with said arm'lsu for oil'erin g arelatively small degree of uniform frictional resistance to the movement of said parts, and a greater portion of the outer surface of each disk in engagement witlrthe bifurcated end of the other of said arms, and means for regulating the frictional engagement of the pivojrd ends of said arms, substantially as specified.

llfA shock absorber comprising a pair of arms, one of said arms having a bifurcated end, a pair of friction disks yieldingly. secured to one of said arms, and each having arelatively small portion of its inner surface in engagement with said arm for offering small degree of uniform frictional resistance to the movement of said arms,.

and'its outer surface in engagement with one of thebifnrcated ends of the other of said arms for offering a greater degree of uniform frictional resistance to the movement of said arms, means for pivotally securing said parts together, and spring means intel-posed between th ends of said securing means and the outer surfaces of the bifurcated end of said arm, substantially as specified. r

12, A shock absorber comprising a pair of arms, heads on each of said arms; one of said arms having .its head bifurcated, and the other having a central :recess therein, a plate disposed within said recess and adapted to move independently of its arm during a part of the movement of said arms, and to engage with its arm and move therewith during th remainder of the movement of said arms, a pairof friction disks rigidly secured to said plate having a portion of their inner sldes in engagement with the opposite-sides of the head intermediate the same, and a greater portion of their outer sides in engagement withthe inner sides of the bifurcated heads of other of said arms, and means for pivotally securing said heads, and the parts intermediate the same together, substantiallyv as specified.

disposed Within said recess, a plurality of projections thereon arranged intermediate the projections on said arm, a pair of frie tion disks rigidly secured to said plate, and having a portion of their inner sides in engagement with. the opposite sides of said arm, and a greater portion of their outer sides in engagement with the inner sides of said bifurcated head, means for pivotally connecting the ends of said arms together, and spring means thereon and means for regulating the frictiqnal engagement of said pivoted parts, substantially. as specified.

14. A shock absorber comprising a pair ofarms, one of said arms'having a bifurcated end, and the other of said arms having a circular recess provided with projections thereon along its edge, a plate disposed in said recess having projections adapted to engage the projections on said arm, a pair of friction disks disposed upon the opposite sides of said arm and secured to the plate disposed within the recess therein and adapted to engage the bifurcated end jections extending into said recess, a plate disposed in said recess having projections thereon adapted to, engage the projections on said member, friction disks disposed upon the opposite sides of said plate and having their inner surfaces in engagement with the head surrounding said plate, and their outer surface in engagementavith the inner surfaces of the heads on the member first named, an annular plate secured to the last named head and inclosing the opposing rims of the heads on said first named member, springs disposed upon the outer "surfaces of said heads, and a bolt for securing said intermeshing' heads and related. parts together, substantially as specified.

16. In shock absorber, the combination of a pair of friction members of circular outline, a third friction member of annular form located between the said first-mentioned members and adapted to frictionally engage the inside faces of said members near the periphery thereof, a connection between said annular member and said first-men tioned members Wl18l(b '";tl1e annular member may have a limited movement independ ent of said...fir st-mentione'i members, but which engages and causes sain; members to move with saidannular member beyond isaid -limited movement, a fourth frictional member cotiperating with oneof the irst-montioned members. an operating arm for said fourth member, and means for regulating the pressure between the said members, substantially as specified.

17 In a shock absorber, the combination of a pair of rotatable friction members relati vcly non-rotatpble, a third friction member of annularfornil located between the said firstm'entioned members and adapted to frictionally engage the inside faces thereof near their peripheries, engaging means between said annular member and said first two members which permit of a limited independent movement of the annular member, but which causes the said annular member to move the first-mentioned members when the annular member is moved beyond the limit of independent movement, a fourth friction member cooperating with the outer face of one of the first-mentioned members, a bolt axially disposed with respect to all of said members, and a spring and nut on said bolt for regulating the pressure between said 10 members.

Signed at the city of New York, in the county and State of New York this third day of April, nineteen hundred and nine. CHRISTIAN H. VVESTEN. Witnesses CONRAD A. DIETERIGH, ELIZABETH B. KING. 

